Kennedy Unveils $330-Million Plan For Volunteerism

Washington--Senator Edward M. Kennedy last week unveiled a
$330-million volunteerism proposal under which the schools would play a
key role in enabling young people to serve society.

The Massachusetts Democrat's long-awaited legislation, which
represents a compromise forged from 10 separate bills, is the most
prominent Congressional alternative to the youth-service initiative
announced by President Bush in June.

Mr. Kennedy's bill earmarks about $65 million for elementary- and
secondary-school programs and $35 million for programs at colleges and
universities. But observers here predict that school programs could be
an even more important element in the legislation that ultimately
emerges from the Congress, probably late next year.

"The call to service should come early, and it should be a vital
part of the education for citizenship in every school system in the
nation," Senator Kennedy said in introducing the measure. "The lesson
of service learned in youth will last a lifetime."

In addition to its school and college provisions, Mr. Kennedy's bill
calls for two other major initiatives. One is a National Service Board,
funded at $100 million a year, that would administer grants and
establish standards to expand the development of full- and part-time
youth-corps programs across the country.

The third part of the bill authorizes a $100-million demonstration
program, under which states could experiment with incentives for
service, such as cash stipends and vouchers for education or
housing.

The compromise bill, which is scheduled for action in the Senate
Labor and Human Resources Committee this week, differs sharply from the
plan offered by Mr. Bush.

The President's proposal calls for total spending of only $100
million, spread over four years, and reflects his strong opposition to
creation of a grants-making agency that would become, he said, "just
another bureaucracy."

Tough Fight Ahead?

Youth-service advocates expressed qualified support for Mr.
Kennedy's proposal, but warned that it faces a difficult fight.

Frank Slobig, executive director of the Washington-based Youth
Service America, described the Senate plan as "not ideal."

"But at this stage in the game," he said, "the important thing was
to get a good strong bill out of committee, and they've done a terrific
job."

He predicted, however, that Mr. Bush would not "buy off" on any part
of the Senate plan.

"But the President has been so up front about his rhetoric
supporting the idea of youth service," Mr. Slobig added, "that he may
really put himself in a box if the Senate finally puts forth
comprehensive legislation that he has to veto."

Congressional aides noted that the Kennedy proposal so far appears
to have support only from Democrats, with most Senate Republicans
aligned with Mr. Bush on the issue.

In announcing his plan, Mr. Kennedy was accompanied by six other
Democratic senators, several of whom proposed bills that were
incorporated into the compromise: Bob Graham of Florida; Barbara A.
Mikulski of Maryland; George J. Mitchell of Maine, the majority leader;
Sam Nunn of Georgia; Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island; and Charles S.
Robb of Virginia.

Mr. Kennedy stressed, however, that "the concept of volunteerism
knows no party affiliations."

'Light on the Wallet'

Backers of the Kennedy plan described it as a relatively inexpensive
approach appropriate to a time of tight fiscal constraints.

The bill is "heavy on will, but light on the wallet," said Ms.
Mikulski.

A spokesman for the Office of National Service, the newly created
White House agency that is directing the President's initiative,
declined comment last week, saying officials had not yet had a chance
to study the Kennedy proposal.

Meanwhile, the House appears ready to back a more modest
youth-service plan that aides say will most likely have more bipartisan
appeal.

The House version, aides say, probably will authorize lower funding
levels for school- and corps-based service programs, and is not likely
to include the demonstration program.

"I can't really see what it aims to demonstrate," one aide said.

No action on the youth-service proposals is expected in the House
until later in the fall, after the President's legislation is formally
introduced, a Republican staff member predicted.

A Movement, Not a Bureaucracy

Mr. Bush said his Youth Engaged in Service to America initiative
would spawn a "movement--bold and unprecedented--not another program or
bureaucracy."

Announcing his plan at a New York meeting, Mr. Bush called on "all
of America's institutions" to heed his "call to action" to help the
homeless, the illiterate, school dropel15louts, drug users, pregnant
teenagers, aids victims, and delinquent or suicidal youths.

Mr. Bush called for creation of a foundation known as the "Points of
Light Initiative," which he would chair. It would receive $25 million a
year in federal funds for four years, and would seek to raise an equal
amount in private contributions.

The White House is currently developing an advisory committee,
headed by Gov. Thomas H. Kean of New Jersey, to determine the
foundation's agenda, he said.

For example, Mr. Bush said, the foundation will operate a "ServNet
Project," through which major corporations, unions, schools, and
religious and civic groups will be asked to donate talented employees
to form working groups that will attempt to duplicate successful
programs.

Through another project called "ServLink," he explained, the
foundation will attempt to match would-be volunteers with service
opportunities through "volunteer centers."

The President said he also planned to establish an awards program
for outstanding volunteers, and to appoint "youth ambassadors" to
promote volunteerism among the young.

Mr. Bush urged governors to establish similar initiatives in each
state to marshal resources within communities and identify service
needs.

Under the school-based portion of Mr. Kennedy's bill, the Education
Department would distribute three-year competitive grants to schools
through state agencies, which would seek to set up school-community
partnerships for students, as well as to bring volunteers from the
community into schools.

National Service Board

The National Service Board created by the bill would offer options
for forgiveness of college-student loans. Unlike a controversial
proposal offered by Mr. Nunn this year, however, it would not replace
existing loan and grant programs with vouchers for service.

Mr. Nunn emphasized that the bill's demonstration projects would be
purely experimental. They would operate for three to five years, he
said, while the effectiveness of the incentives was evaluated.

Under the pilot program, the National Service Board would offer
stipends of from $6,200 to $7,000 a year for full-time volunteers over
the age of 17. In addition, volunteers could receive education and/or
housing vouchers of up to $8,500 per year for up to two years of
full-time service, or $3,000 per year for from three to six years of
part-time service.

The Senate bill also seeks to expand existing federal service
programs, such as vista and other projects operated by the action
agency.

Mr. Bush, however, has said he does not want to link his initiative
with any existing service agency or government branch.

Ground Rules for Posting
We encourage lively debate, but please be respectful of others. Profanity and personal attacks are prohibited. By commenting, you are agreeing to abide by our user agreement.
All comments are public.